Comar has announced the relocation and expansion of its West Bend, WI, manufacturing site. The supplier of specialty packaging and custom molded medical devices and assemblies is moving into a 160,000-square-foot former plastic molding facility less than five miles from the current location. It’s the third major site expansion announced by Comar in 2020.
The new building will triple Comar’s local footprint and eventually house more than $7 million worth of capital investment in high-tonnage injection molding machines, large cavitation molds, and press side automation. Comar has retained some assets from the former plastics processing plant, the company added.
Comar CEO Mike Ruggieri said in a prepared statement that the “pandemic affecting our society has brought an unprecedented surge in demand for Comar’s rigid packaging, especially for disinfecting wipes used in hospitals, homes, and institutions. We recognize the critical role our injection molding and blow molding solutions play in delivering essential supplies to the frontlines in the battle against COVID-19. This expansion shows our commitment to the fight and will position Comar to better meet demand while addressing the growth and service level needs of our customers. We will also be situated to support future injection molding and blow molding business opportunities and partnerships with our extensive floor space,” said Ruggieri.
West Bend Plant Manager James Spalding noted, “in addition to the capacity expansion, our team members are looking forward to the improved floor layout, new break rooms, dedicated training facilities, and the planned investments in employee development. We anticipate an enlargement in our team as Comar is actively recruiting to fill immediate openings for skilled technicians and shift operators for the plant.”
Comar expects to begin production at the new address on newly installed equipment in December 2020 and commence a full plant move during the first quarter of 2021.
In February of this year, Comar announced the construction of a custom manufacturing facility in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Then, in June, it announced a major capacity expansion of its Buena, NJ, plant operations by building a new offsite location in nearby Vineland, NJ. The new 159,000-square-foot facility will house injection molding and assembly and finishing machines. It is scheduled for completion by March 2021.